Brake Joins Police on March

January 28, 2008 1:11 PM

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington and Shadow Minister at the Home Office marched with over 20,000 police officers on Wednesday in London.

Tom said, "I joined the march to show solidarity with officers. The Government's refusal to pay the full Police settlement is a disgrace and a breach of trust. It will take years for the relationship between officers and Ministers to recover. The police should have been granted their full rise, agreed by the arbitration panel. The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister's wilful interference has done untold damage."

Tom was then one of thousands who listened to Jan Berry, the Chairman of the Police Federation and Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, make impassioned speeches in support of the police and the need for the pay settlement to be paid in full and immediately.

Tom is one of 222 MPs who have signed EDM 512 below.

EDM 512

Police Officer Pay Settlement

That this House is disappointed by the failure of the Government to accept in full the recommendations of the Police Arbitration Tribunal police pay award; believes that the pay settlement should be backdated to 1st September; notes that the police are the front line in the fight against organised crime, terrorism and anti-social behaviour; recognises that their work puts them at great personal risk; further believes that this dispute over 0.6 per cent. difference is petty and needless; and calls upon the Government to reconsider its decision.